My expectation is from Him. (Psalm 62:5 NKJV)
One of the common denominators that comes up in many pastoral counseling sessions is “unmet” expectations. The primary reason for this is due to the fact that we tend to put our expectations upon someone other than God. Let me make something perfectly clear right up front: no one other than God Omnipotent can bear the weight of our expectations. Oh, the world will make promises multiplied, but they simply cannot produce.
David knew this truth and centered his expectations on the Eternal One. When our expectation is from Him, we are never left with an unmet expectation. When we set our desires on nothing less than God’s perfect will in our imperfect lives, our expectations will not only be met, they will be abundantly exceeded.
Jesus never had an unmet expectation because every moment of His life was spent in the eager expectation of the Father’s perfect will. His life of prayer and constant communion with His Father caused Jesus to seek and savor God’s eternal plan for His life, which met His every expectation.
Here is the key to unlocking the door leading to never having another unmet expectation. It is not in lowering your expectations; rather, it is in raising your expectation to God. God has promised to meet your every need, but not your every want. To be sure, God meets many of our wants along the way, but the promise is for our needs:
“My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
God has never broken that promise to anyone at any time. He hears our prayers and answers them according to His plan and purpose for our lives. As I often remind the congregation at Cross Community Church, sometimes God says “Yes,” and our expectation has been met; sometimes God says “Wait,” and our expectation has been met; and sometimes God says “No,” and our expectation has been met. How can it be that our expectation is met when God’s answer is “Wait” or “No”? Because when our expectation is from God, we receive His response with joy and gladness, whatever it is, because we trust that our God always works in our lives for our ultimate good.
Where does this find you today? Have you been dealing with some unmet expectations? If so, then you can be sure your expectation is not from Him. You have put your expectation in something smaller than God, and it simply cannot support the weight of your expectations.
When your expectations are from Him, they will never go unmet. That is true not only in this life, but in the next life also. Heavenly glory awaits you and the joyful expectation of hearing the words, “Well done.” Your room has already been prepared, but the door has not yet been opened for you to enter . . . which means that God still has work for you to do here! So do that work for His glory, and you can be assured that your expectations will be abundantly exceeded.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 